Hi all,

I’m in the process of ripping out the r12 system (sad, I know) in my 92 Dakota and replacing it with a system from a 94. I bought all new parts from four seasons on rockauto, and I noticed that none of them came with clips that hold the lines together but I read somewhere there are spring clips.

I’ve been poking around and for some reason cannot find the clips, either the part number or the size or where to buy them, anything. I went to the dealer earlier today because I had to pickup my dads truck for warranty emissions stuff (Cummins emissions things surprise surprise), and they told me I’d need a VIN off of a 94 to get the accurate parts, so no luck there.

i was wondering if anyone here knew of what clips I need and or where I can buy them? I bought literally everything, evap core, condenser, compressor, drier, lines, etc, so I would need everything.

 

R-134 parts like hoses and such just snap together. You use a disconnect tool to take them apart but they just push together. The springs are inside the larger rolled part and the smallersection goes right in. Just be sure to oil the O rings so they slip right in.

 

I hate to crash the bubble to hard but if your system was in ok shape you could just convert it with a new drier and adapter fittings. Good fall back plan if you don't find what you need. But I agree with above unless we're missing something. There shouldn't be any separate clips. sometimes the hoses bolt to the compressor and the condenser, but everything else snaps together, there should be a little round coil looking spring inside each connection.

 

I bought a '93 Dakota in early '93. They told me if the a/c ever gave me trouble, they would be converting it to R-134. However, the OP had already started swapping parts. I've got a 1989 Oldsmobile I'm thinking of fixing the a/c on and I don't know if I will convert or just repair it. I have about 1 1/2 cases of R-12 in storage.

The connectors on the lines are the same type as fuel lines use.

 

Clean out the evaporator core the best you can. R12 oil is not compatible with with 134A. R12 compressors will work with134 but compressors made for 134 will work at higher pressure. So if you convert to 134 see if you can use a 134 compressor.

 

Good to know they just slip together lol I dont know where I got they had clips.

The reason I’m swapping everything is because I had the “suitcase” out to swap out the heater core because it was leaking. I figured while I was in there I would replace the evap so I didn’t have to do the fun job of removing the case.

I ended up buying everything because I wanted to get a new compressor which I couldn’t find easily for r12, but plenty for 134.

 

Interesting info as I had a small fire in my engine compartment that roasted a couple AC tubes. Now my R12 (1993 truck) AC no longer blows out cold air. Not sure what the damage is but it is damaged.

 

What caused the fire?

 

Not certain. I noticed after that the connection between the alternator and the cable going to the PCM was sparking pretty bad. Was that the cause or a result of the fire? Can't know for certain but if I'm wagering money I'd say it was a bad connection causing it to spark and was the source of the fire.

 

Replace your lines. Refrigerant tends to seep through lines anyway and fire damage will make them leak like a sieve. This will be the time to convert to R-134. The number refers to the size of the molecule. R-12 is less likely to leak because it's a bigger molecule. R-134 is much smaller and finds smaller pores to seep through.

Flush the system and replace the mineral oil with PAG oil. You'll need a conversion kit but you'll then have R-134 system.